Charles Cox. v. Dr. Erica Renfree

In March 2021, the San Diego Unified School District Board, led by Principal Dr. Erica Renfree, voted to rename Junípero Serra High School to Canyon Hills High School, citing St. Junípero Serra’s ties to alleged mistreatment of indigenous peoples during California’s mission period. Serra, an 18th-century Franciscan missionary who founded nine missions and advocated for native rights, was incorrectly criticized as a symbol of colonial oppression. The renaming process, driven by a 70-page packet and student presentations, was seen by plaintiffs Charles Cox, Janet Bartel, and Angela Elfman—parents of former students—as clearly biased and defamatory toward Catholicism. They argued the process ignored community polls favoring the original name and lacked transparent public engagement, violating procedural fairness.

Represented by Thomas More Society, the parents filed a lawsuit on July 16, 2021, in the Superior Court of California, alleging violations of the Ralph M. Brown Act for inadequate notice and misleading agendas, alongside breaches of due process and establishment clauses under state and federal constitutions. The complaint claimed the renaming campaign showed unconstitutional hostility toward religion, manipulating data to justify erasing Catholic heritage. Despite prior warnings from Thomas More Society in 2020 and 2021, the board proceeded, unveiling Canyon Hills High School in October 2021.